Apparatus for embalming



(No Model.)

Y 2 Sheets8heet 1. A. S. LOVETT.

APPARATUS FOR EMBALMING.

No. 300.989. Patented June 24, 1884.

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7 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. A. S. LOVETT.

APPARATUS FOR EMBALMING.

Patented 11111624, 1884.

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UNITED S rains Parent Fries.

ARTHUR S. LOVETT, OF ERIE, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO PORTER S. ENS- WVORTH, OF \VATERFORD, PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR EM'BALMING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 300,989, dated June 24, 1884.

Application filed October 23, 1883.

I (all whom, it may concern;

Be it known that I, ARTHUR S. LovE'r'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at Erie, in the county of Erie and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Treating-Cases for Preserving Dead Bodies from Decay; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and eX- act description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked: thereon, forming part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in treating-cases for treating dead bodies to suspend decomposition and decay therein, and devices connectedand used with such cases for supplying gases thereto.

The objects of my invention are, first, to construct a portable cooling-board for'dead bodies having aflexible gas-tight coveringand having suitable devices therewith for supplying thereto and expelling therefrom the gases used therein, and at the same time light, so as to be readily portable; second, to provide a treating-case for dead bodies which can be readily opened and closed for the admission or taking out of a body; third, of devices and means for forcing gases around and upon a body placed in such treating-case and bringing them in contact with all parts of such body, and also of devices and means for ex.- pelling said gases and conducting them to the outside of any building wherein such treat ing-case is being used. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is an elevation in perspective of 40 my improved treating-case with gasholder attached and a portion of theilexible cover broken away, showing a body therein. Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the lower portion of same with the flexible cover removed. Fig. 3 is a plain elevation of my improved treating-case with a portion of the flexible cover broken away, showing a gas-holder outside, together with a supplemental gas-generator inside of the case. Fig. at is a plain elevation of iny improved treating-case with used in the case.

(No model.)

a portion of the flexible cover broken away, showing a gas-generator inside of the case.

Similar letters refer to similar parts in the several views.

The construction and operation of my devices are substantially as follows:

The bottom B of the case I construct of a light wooden frame of anysuitable shape, covered with prepared paper, or with any substance that is light and at the same time suf- 6o ficiently close in texture to retain the gases The legs D D are ordinary folding legs hinged to the under side of B and having braces (Z d, as shown in all the figures. Upon the bottom B of the case I attach a bed, 6 5 C, constructed of a frame, 0, covered with woven cane or other suitable material, C. This bed 0 is also constructed with one end somewhat turned up at E, thereby forming arest for the head of the body, and raising it sufficiently to cause the fluids of the body to flow downward'to the lower portions of the body. This bed Ois attached toB bysupports which raise it up sufficiently to admit a free circulation of the gases under it.

' On the under side of the bottom B, I attach a light bellows, J, communicating with the upper side of B by an opening, F, within which opening is an ordinary check-valve. (Not shown.) In lieu of the bellows any ap- 8o paratus canbe used for forcing air through F, the object whereof will hereinafter be referred to. Through the opposite end of the bottom B, I make an opening, 9, to which is securely attached a. cock, 9, to which is attached a hose or flexible pipe, G, to be used as hereinafter described.

The upperpart of the case A, Iconstruct of rubber cloth or other flexible gas-tight material, substantially of the shape shown. 0 Around the lower edge of this cover I attach alight frame, B, bya gas-tight joint. Through this frame B are openings for the clamps b b, the portion 1) of the clamp being securely attached to the bottom B. Between B and B 5 'I place a strip of packing, A, of rubber or other suitable material, which for convenience can be attached to either B or B, as may be clamped together by clamps Z) I), or other suitable means, it forms a gas-tight joint between B and B, effectually preventing any escape of gas therefrom. In constructing the flexible cover A, if desired, glass or mica panels may be inserted in one or more places, so that a body placed in the case maybe seen while undergoing treatment.

In Figs. 1, 3, and 4 I have shown different means for supplying the gases used in the case. In Fig. 1 I have shown a cylinder, H, into which the gases may be compressed and supplied threfrom to the case by means of the hose G,and cock F,opening into the case at c. In Fig; 3, I have shown the compression-cylinder I1, and also a gas-generator, I, inside of the case, each" supplying the same or difierent gases. In Fig. 4Ihave sh own a gas-generator, I, alone, as the means for supplying the gases used in the case. v

In constructing my device I prefer the peculiar form and arrangement of parts shown; but it is obvious to any one skilled in the art to which my invention appertains that both the form and the arrangement of parts can be variedv and equally good results attained; therefore I do not confine myself to the exact form and arrangement of parts shown.

In operating my improvement I remove the flexible cover A and place the body upon the bed 0, after which I replace the cover in position over the body and clamp it down, so as to make the joint between B and B gas-tight. I then, in using the device for supplying the gas, (shown in Fig. 1,) attach thehose G to the cock F and admit the gas or gases to be used, which have first been compressed into the cylinder H,into the case about the body until the case is filled with the gases and the cover completely distended, so as to produce a moderate pressure on and about the body placed therein. I then leave the body in that condition for such a time as may be necessary,or until it is desired to remove the body for burial. Before I remove the body from the case I close the cock F and remove the cylinder II and hose G, after which I put one end of the hose G out of a window or other opening in the house and open the waste-cock g. I then pump air into the case by means of the bellows J until Ihave expelled all the gases from the case and driven them out of the house through the hose G. I then open the case by removing the clamps and taking off the flexible cover A, when the body can be removed.

, Thusfar I have described only the mode of operating the device shown in Fig. 1. Figs.

3 and 4 show other means for supplying the gases used to the case; otherwise they do not differ in operation from the case shown in Fig. 1. In Fig. 3 the gases used are supplied from two sourees-one the'oylinder already described, and the other a gas-generator, 1, into which suitable materials are placed for generating the gas to be used, the gas-genera tor being then inclosed in the case with the body, as shown, the generator thus supplementing the cylinder H and continuously producing and keeping up the supply of the gas used so long as the body remains in the case. In Fig. 4 I have shown the treating-case with a gas-generator, I,'before referred to, therein for furnishing all of the gases used in the case during the treating of a dead body. The gasgenerator I may, however, be placed outside of the case and connected therewith by means of the hose G, if desired, it working well in that way. i

I am aware that various devices for preserving have heretofore been constructed entirely of flexible material, and also partly of flexible material; therefore I do not claim, broadly, a flexible cover, nor do I claim, broadly, means for forcing gases into preserving-cases and expelling them therefrom, as I am aware that devices have been constructed and used for such purpose; but none of the cases are either constructed or operated in the manner I have hereinbefore described.

Having thus fully described my invention so as to enable others skilled in the art to which 1 it pertains to construct and operate the same,

what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

l. Theeombinatiominacase for inclosing and embalming dead bodies, of a gas-tight bottom, B, with a flexible gas-tight cover, A, provid ed with a frame, B, secured to the lower edge thereof, adapted to be clamped to the bottom B or removed therefrom, the packing A and clamps b b, &c., all operating together, sub-. stantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, in a case for treating dead bodies, of the following elements; a bottom,B,mounted upon folding legs-D D, a flexible gas-tight cover, A, arranged to be clamped to the bottom B, and'means for supplying gas to and expelling the same from said case, all

arranged and operating substantially as and for the purpose set forth. I

3. The combination, with a gas-tight case for treating dead bodies, of the flexible cover 

